Ann Arbor, Mich. – Roni Hietaranta continued his dominant fall season at the Big Ten Individual Championships, as he advanced to the semifinals for singles play in the main draw. In the tournament, the Huskers gathered 11 singles wins as a team along with two doubles victories.
Hietaranta received a bye to begin the tournament, advancing to the Round of 32. The Lappeenranta, Finland native bested Indiana’s Luc Boulier in dominant fashion on Friday, 6-1, 6-0, earning a spot in the next round. In the Round of 16, Hietaranta knocked off Wisconsin’s Jared Pratt in a thrilling three-set victory, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 7-5. The sophomore also bested Northwestern’s Natan Spear, 6-4, 6-2 to grab a spot in the semifinals. He has now won seven matches on the fall campaign and has been victorious in six of his last eight.
Lars Johann and Rudi Christiansen fought hard in three-set affairs, but fell in the Round of 64. Both won the first set in their respective matches before dropping the final two. However, Johann bounced back on Saturday with a pair of victories in consolation play, winning all four sets in those matches. The Saarbruecken, Germany native continued his hot streak with a win over Indiana’s Andrew Meier, 6-3, 6-0. He finished the tournament with a career-high three singles wins.
Shunya Maruyama knocked off Indiana’s Luke Vukovic, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, to begin his tournament run off a bye. The Nagano, Japan native fell in the Round of 16 in straight sets, ending his tournament run.
On Friday, William Gleason gathered his first singles win of the fall in the opening round as he was victorious against Purdue’s Hassan Boroudi, 6-4, 7-5. In his second match of the day, the Lincoln native fell to Sebastian Vile in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. Gleason competed on Saturday against Michigan State’s Max Sheldon, losing in consecutive sets, 6-4, 7-6 (6). He rebounded on the final day of play to grab a win, his second of the tournament.
In doubles play, Johann and Gleason took their first match against Northwestern’s Max Bengtsson and Saiprakash Goli, 8-6. With the win, the duo advanced into the Round of 32 before falling 8-4 to Illinois’ Mathis Debru and Lucas Horve. Hietaranta and Maruyama, despite their success in single’s action, dropped their lone contest to Robin Parts and Vile of Wisconsin, 8-5.
The Huskers will be…
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